Racket press



J. H. SMITH RACKET PRESS Oct. 18, 1932.

Original Filed Sept. 4. 1929 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 1 UNITED STATES J'OHN HUNTER SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS RACKET rnnss Application filed September 4, 1929, Serial No. 390,267. Renewed June 5, 1931.

My invention relates to certain new and useful im rovements in lawn tennis racket presses a apted for engaging the rim of a racket, for maintaining the latter in shape and to prevent warping of the same when not in use.

Important objects of the invention are'to provide a racket press of the character described which may be readily applied to the racket or removed therefrom; which embodies but two separable parts, which embodies novel means for assuring the proper parallel alignment of its two parts, which is simple in its construction and arrangement,

strong, durable and efficient in its use, compact, attractive in appearance, positive in its action, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and'in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figures 1 and 2, are respectively, topplan views of the front and rear spider frames.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a tennis racket provided with a press constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the front and rear spider frames, illustrating their relative positions when applied to a tennis racket.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of the connecting bar.

Figure 6 is an enlarged end view of the cam end of the cam lever. 1 Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 77,

Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 and 2, respectively denote front and rear spider frames. The front frame 1 consists of four radially extending arms 3, which are formed integral with a centrally disposed hub 4. The rear frame likewise consists of four radially extending arms 5, which are formed integral with a centrally disposed hub 6. Each of the arms 3 and of the arms 5 is positioned at right angles, relatively to the adjacent arms, and each is diametrically aligned with another of said arms.

The spider frames 1 and 2 may be constructed from metal,-wood, or from any other suitable materials, and the arms 3 and 5 thereof may be substantially triangular in. transverse cross section, as illustrated, or of any other configuration to best suit conditions found in practice.

The hub 6, of the rear spider frame 2, carries a fixed, forwardly projecting, connecting bar 7, which is formed with a laterally openingnotch 8 providing a hook 9. The connecting bar 7 is preferably oblong intransverse 7 cross section to facilitate its insertion through the stringed mesh of the tennis racket 10. It is evident that the connecting bar 7 may be constructed from round or other shape stock, and that the hook 9 may be formed by overturning the outer free end thereof.

The hub 4, of the front spider frame 1, is formedwith an oblong aperture 11, which is adapted for the reception and passage of the connecting bar 7 therethrough. If the connecting bar is of dilferent shape the associated aperture, would of course, be ofcorresponding contour.

A camlever 12-is pivotally connected, as at 13, to a boss 14, which'is formed integral with the hub 4. The inner end of the lever 12 is formed with anarcuate cam 15, which is disposed forwardly at rightangles to the lever 12- The cam 15 is operable for extending into the notch 8 and engaging the hook 9, as clearly shown in Figure 4. A lug 16is carried at one end of the cam'15 for limiting the movement of the latter when forced to r the clamping position. r r

' The outer free end of each of the ar1ns'8 and 5 is comparatively flat and is covered by a sleeve 17, which may be constructed from rubber, leather or any other suitable material. The sleeves 17 areprovided so that the engaged rim 18 of the racket 10 Willnot become scratched or marred even by repeated use of the device.

In positioning my improved press to the tennis racket 10, the spider frame 1 is positioned at the front of the racket and the spider frame 2 is placed and opposed at the rear thereof, in a manner to dispose the arms 3 and 5 diagonally across the racket, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The connecting bar 7, fixed in the frame hub 6, is extended through the racket mesh and through the aperture 11, formed in the frame hub 4, to project the notched hook end '9 for-' wa-rdly of the frame hub l. The manipulation of the cam lever 12 will force th'e'cam 15 into the notched hook end 9, and securely clamp the two spider frames 1 and 2 to the tennis racket 10.

It will here be noted that the relative positions and contours of the aperture 11 and of the connecting bar 7, in respective frame hubs 4 and 6, is such that the engagement of the connecting bar 7 in the aperture 11, will automatically establish the exact parallel relation of the spider frames 1 and 2 on the tennis racket 10.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a most efficient device of its kind comprising a pair of spider frames, to which all parts of the associated clamping elements are permanently connected, thereby preventing liability of the loss of any parts thereof during the frequently repeated application and removal of the press to and from the tennis racket.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a racket press, of the character described, comprising a pair of similar spider frames, each of said pair of spider frames consisting of a hub provided with a plurality of radially disposed arms, a connecting bar being rigidly and permanently fixed in the hub of one of said spider frames and having a notch formed adjacent to the free end thereof, the hub of the other of said pair of spider frames being formed with an aperture for the passage of said connecting bar, a cam member pivotally connecting with the forward side of said apertured hub and engaging in the notch of said connecting bar for drawing said pair of spider frames toward each other, said connecting bar and said aperture being oblong in transverse cross section for establishing and maintaining the parallel relation of said pair of spider frames.

2. In combination, a racket press, of the character described, comprising a pair of similar spider frames, each of said pair of spider frames consisting of a hub provided with a plurality of radially disposed arms, a connecting bar being rigidly and permanently fixed in the hub of one of said spider frames and having a hook notch formed ad jacent to the free end thereof, the hub of the other of said pair of spider frames being formed with an aperture for the passage of said connecting bar, a cam member pivotally connecting with the forward side of said apertured hub and engaging in the hook notch of said connecting bar for drawing said pair of spider frames toward each other, said connecting bar and said aperture being oblong in transverse cross section for establishing and maintaining the parallel relation of said pair of spider frames.

3. The structure of claim 1, and a protective element carried at the outer ends of each of the arms of said pair of spider frames.

4:. The structure of claim 1, and said cam member being pivoted on the hub and on an axis parallel to said connecting bar and hav ing a spiral shaped cam portion engageable in the notch of said connecting bar for draw ing said pair of spider frames toward each other.

5. In combination, a racket press of the character described, comprising a pair of frames, a connecting bar secured to one of said frames and having a projecting portion at the free end thereof, the other of said frames being formed with an aperture for the passage of said connecting bar, and a cam member pivoted on the apertured frame and engageable with the projecting portion of the connecting bar for drawing the frames to ward each other, and said connecting bar and said aperture in one of the frames being so shaped that the connecting bar establishes and maintains a fixed relation between said pair of frames.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

J. HUNTER SMITH. 

